Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 78, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 January 1911 — SCHENK POISON CASE ON TRIAL [ARTICLE]

SCHENK POISON CASE ON TRIAL

Miss Evans, Nurse, Gives Sen* sational Testimony. FEARED HUSBAND’S BROTHER Nurse on Stand Relates Detail* of Case and Tell* of Vomiting Spell* Following Drinking of Water by Poison Victim.

Wheeling, W. Va., Jan. 13. —Mrs. Laura Schenk, bn trial on a charge of poisoning her husband, John O. Schenk, fully expected him to die and told the attending physician that seh would be better satisfied if he would let him die instead of trying to restore him to health. These points have thus far been brought out by the state. The state also scored when Miss Alma J. Evans, a nurse, who attended Mr. Schenk during his illness, testified Mrs. Schenk had told her she did not love her husband, that he was too old, and that she would prefer some young society man. On direct examination at the hands of State’s Attorney Handlan, Miss Evans said she was called to the Schenk home to nurse Mr. Scheme on Oct, 1. Two days after her arrival, she said her suspicions were aroused by violent vomiting spells that would visit Mr. Schenk almost immediately after he would take a drink of water. “Mr. Schenk,” said Miss Evans, "complained about the peculiar taste, of the water, and to satisfy him tnat it was all right; I took a drink from the same bottle. Half an hour later I vomited violently. Then I informed Dr. Hupp of my suspicions and Mr. Schenk was removed to the North Wheeling hospital.” Miss Evans said Mrs. Schenk seemed to possess a fear that Albert Schenk, a brother of her husband, was trying to harm her. “Once,” said Miss Evans, “Mrs. Schenk said to me, ‘Mr. Schenk is seriously ill. Dr. Hupp tells me he i> liable to drop dead at any Now, as soon as you see the breath is out of him. you go to his pants and get the keys to his- safe deposit box. I am afraid Albert Schenk will get them and cheat me out of my rights.’ Mrs. Schenk seemed certain that her husband was going to die.” Thus far the state has failed to prove that Mrs. Schenk put the poison into, her husband’s medicine and the drinking water, but State’s Attorney Handlan has promised to prove, not only that she did put the poison in the bottles, but when, where and how she obtained it. and who aided her in doing what she did.